10 iconic literary bars from across the globe

From Paris to Buenos Aires, these renowned literary bars invite you to enjoy a drink while keeping your notebook close at hand.

Indeed, pubs, bars, and lounges often serve as havens for writers. These solitary artists may crave both intellectual engagement and social interaction amidst the cozy atmosphere of a bar. They might be there to observe, gathering inspiration for their next masterpiece. Or maybe they simply need a drink.

Across the world, certain historic venues have attracted countless writers over the years, welcoming some of the most celebrated literary figures as regular patrons. Here are 10 renowned literary bars where you’ll want to relax with a drink, notebook ready.

1. El Floridita, Havana, Cuba

Operating for nearly two centuries, El Floridita is renowned as a beloved spot for the legendary Havana resident Ernest Hemingway. This bar in Cuba’s capital gained fame for its daiquiris; Hemingway, a well-known cocktail enthusiast, ordered his with no sugar and extra rum, which became the Papa Doble – now El Floridita’s signature drink. The bar honors him with a life-sized statue. Enjoy a few daiquiris, and you might just feel his presence alongside other notable figures like Errol Flynn and Gary Cooper.

2. Vesuvio Café, San Francisco, USA

Nestled in San Francisco’s vibrant North Beach, Vesuvio Café was a favored spot for the Beat Generation, including notable writers like Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsburg, and Neal Cassady. Conveniently located next to the iconic City Lights Books, founded by Lawrence Ferlinghetti in 1953, you can stroll through the adjacent pedestrian alley to admire colorful murals featuring poetry and literary quotes. Embrace your inner beatnik: order a Bohemian Coffee, head upstairs, and find a seat with a view of the bustling bar below—where history was made. Get into it!

3. Café Tortoni, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Café Tortoni exudes the faded elegance and stylish nostalgia that defines Buenos Aires. It is arguably the most renowned of the city’s bares notables, a collection of charming old cafes where sandwiches de miga (crustless sandwiches) and facturas (pastries) are served with flair by waiters in bow ties. Esteemed figures from Argentine arts and literature frequented Tortoni, including master storyteller Jorge Luis Borges, poet Alfonsina Storni, and the legendary tango composer Carlos Gardel, who held court at a table by the front window. Today, the creative spirit continues in a downstairs venue where poetry readings, jazz sessions, and tango performances are a regular affair.

4. The Horse You Came In On Saloon, Baltimore, USA

Edgar Allan Poe frequented numerous taverns throughout his life, but The Horse You Came in On Saloon is considered the last place he drank before his death, with a sign above the door proclaiming it “Poe’s Last Stop.” Situated in the Fell’s Point Historic District, this dive bar was established in 1775, making it the oldest bar in Baltimore and the only one in Maryland to have operated continuously before, during, and after Prohibition. Staying true to its name, the bar features unique touches like saddle-shaped seats on its barstools.

5. Café Louvre, Prague, Czech Republic

A Parisian-style café and billiard hall located in Prague, Café Louvre opened its doors in 1902 and soon became a popular gathering spot for artists, writers, and intellectuals. Among its notable patrons was the novelist and short-story writer Franz Kafka, who participated in a philosophical circle that convened here. Ascend the grand staircase to the first floor, where you’ll be welcomed by soaring ceilings and an opulent interior that radiates belle-époque charm. It was closed and deemed a ‘bourgeois’ establishment during the Communist era but reopened in 1992 after the Velvet Revolution, regaining its popularity swiftly.

6. Les Deux Magots, Paris, France

In the stylish St-Germain-des-Prés district, this legendary café has shed its bohemian image. While you may pay a premium for a café crème at Les Deux Magots, the ambiance steeped in intellectual history makes it worthwhile. Since the late 19th century, prominent literary figures have gathered at its outdoor tables to smoke, sip absinthe, and exchange ideas. Regular patrons have included Surrealists, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, Pablo Picasso, James Joyce, and other monumental figures who transformed Paris into a cultural epicenter.

7. White Horse Tavern, New York City, USA

As you wander through New York City’s West Village, you'll encounter countless writers typing away in the area's many coffee shops. They inherit a rich legacy: the neighborhood has been a literary hub in the USA and beyond since the 19th century. This heritage continues at the historic White Horse Tavern, which has been serving patrons since 1880 and gained fame as a literary hangout in the 1950s. Like the West Village itself, the current vibe at the White Horse can attract a trendy crowd. However, as you enjoy a pint at its beautifully carved-wood bar, it's easy to imagine the lingering presence of hard-drinking poets Dylan Thomas and Delmore Schwartz, whose spirits are rumored to haunt the establishment to this day.

8. Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, London, UK

Enter this underground pub, nestled in an alley just off London’s Fleet St, and travel back in time. Established in 1538 and rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666, Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese was a beloved haunt of Charles Dickens, who referenced the pub in A Tale of Two Cities. He was among many writers who frequented this spot, with luminaries like Mark Twain, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and P.G. Wodehouse enjoying drinks here. Spanning four floors, the pub boasts a maze of lower-level chambers, cellars, and tunnels waiting to be discovered.

9. Carousel Bar, New Orleans, USA

The vibrant Carousel Bar within the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans’ French Quarter has attracted countless writers seeking inspiration in one of the USA’s most enchanting cities. With the support of literary figures like Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams, it was designated an official “Literary Landmark” by the United for Libraries in 1999. As guests sip their Sazeracs, the carousel-like bar completes a full rotation every 15 minutes. Some writers, including Eudora Welty and William Faulkner, found the carousel so captivating that they incorporated it into their works. You’ll likely feel the same while enjoying live jazz and a signature Vieux Carré cocktail.

10. Davy Byrnes Pub, Dublin, Ireland

It's easy to list bars where famous authors have frequented. But how about one that features in a renowned novel? Although the current vibe might not align with James Joyce’s taste, Davy Byrnes deserves a spot on any literary tour of Dublin for its role in Joyce’s masterpiece Ulysses. In Chapter 8 of this modernist classic, protagonist Leopold Bloom stops by for a Gorgonzola sandwich and a glass of Burgundy. Today, chips and pints are the usual fare—except on Bloomsday (June 16), when Joyce enthusiasts retrace Bloom’s journey through Dublin, and the Gorgonzola often sells out.